Season Preview 2007-08

There is a strange smell that pervades the surrounds of Priestfield Stadium as season 2007-08 prepares to embark, it is the whiff of optimism. Following the cull at the end of last season when only four players were offered contracts, of whom only Ian Cox accepted, Ronnie Jepson has gone about rebuilding the side from back to front. The incoming players appear to have much more substance than the ones brought in last year and for the first time in several years money has been paid for a player. Barnet received £200,000 for the services of Simon King, first impressions are that he is a footballing defender, but perhaps lacking in a little pace which might be a bit of an undoing with ageing central defenders like Cox and Efe Sodje (below) who has been brought in from Southend. Sodje, of bandana fame, will bring a wealth of experience to the table. Making up the back line will be Craig Armstrong from Cheltenham, a previous Gillingham loanee.
The area that has caused the most problems in recent seasons is the man behind the back four. No less than six keepers were used last season as a procession of loans took the place of the invisible Kelvin Jack. Ronnie has shored up this position bringing in one of those loanees on a permanent deal, Simon Royce from QPR and Derek Stille, the ex-Wigan keeper who played against the Gills in the 2000 play-off final. The competition might even inspire Jack to get off his arse and either compete for the jersey or depart for pastures new.
Although King has commanded the money purchase the stand-out signing of the summer has been the capture of Steve Lomas (left) from QPR, 32 but seems to have been around for years, it is hoped that he is going to bring the absolute best out of Andrew Crofts, notwithstanding that Crofty is the reigning player of the year. Making up the midfield signings are Aaron Brown from Swindon and Barry Cogan from Barnet, both unknown quantities, but have impressed at times in pre-season especially Brown.

Up front, thankfully Dean McDonald has departed to Scotland and Ndumbo has gone out on loan to Bradford, two very ordinary (at best) signings last close season and they have been replaced by players with reputations. Delroy Facey (below) has arrived from Rotherham and David Graham from Sheffield Wednesday, both of whom have been subject of big money purchases in the past.

There are questions of course to the source of the money that has paid for this overhaul. Gillingham did get a sizeable fee, undisclosed, but thought to be in the region of £500,000 for Matt Jarvis and perhaps this is the underpinning but we are left to wonder how this money did not go straight to the bank’s coffers.

So who is going to win this Division? For two seasons I’ve said Nottingham Forest and whilst last season they made it as far as the play-offs they are still with us and once again look the big club in the League. Prior to their 15 point penalty Leeds would have been obvious favourites for a return to the Championship, moreso than Forest they look a club out-of-place in League One, but they are where they are and their ongoing financial problems are not going to allow them to buy their way out, but with a 15 point deficit that is going to be mission impossible. Working deep in Millwall territory it is amazing the optimism that their people show, every year is going to be their year and this year is no different. Yes, they may well be in with a shout, but the same is going to be said about Doncaster Rovers, seemingly spending money wisely and many a pundit’s choice; Yeovil, defeated finalists in the play-offs last year; Swansea, Tranmere all have their merits and perhaps, just perhaps Gillingham can be added into this chasing pack. I’m going for Forest and without any degree of confidence, Millwall.

The same optimism aforementioned at Priestfield is also evident down at Longmead, where Tonbridge have been putting together a squad that looks quite capable of sustaining a challenge on the top five. The major coup of the summer was undoubtedly the contracting of last season’s 40-goal hero, Jon Main and while the fizz had barely gone out of the champagne of his signing the return of the legend that is Hamid Barr was announced. Another player making a return to the club is Steve Harper and the forward line is also supplemented by the signing of Tommy Tyne. James Donovan is a giant of a centre-back coming in from Margate and there have also been whispers of a return for Lenny Piper. Tonbridge are going to find it difficult to make a challenge on the big money sides like Wimbledon, Chelmsford and Billericay, but thereafter the opportunity is there to break into the play off positions.

So what of England? There is a very real fear that the national side will not qualify for next summer’s Euros. Certainly they cannot afford any slip-ups at Wembley and will probably still need to go to Moscow and avoid defeat in October. Games will come thick and fast at the new home with five scheduled before the end of November when the final game of qualifying sees England pitted against the group favourites Croatia. Ann and myself have the flights booked for the trip to Moscow, it should be a great trip but I would hope that we are going to be visiting with a result still meaning something rather than purely as tourists.

The new grounds total will not rise by much this season with only Swansea and Doncaster offering League opportunities, both by virtue of new stadia, although Swansea’s is three years old.

In conclusion, optimism is the byword for both the Gills and the Angels, but nervous for the national side. I hope the positivity of both clubs puts last season’s mediocrity far behind us, perhaps promotion for one or other, but I’m hopeful that it will at least be interesting.